Rocket nozzle with adjustable throat



April 5, 1966 Q I E. J. HAYES 3,244,199

ROCKET NOZZLE WITH ADJUSTABLE THROAT Filed June 25, 1962 IN VENTOR.

2 1M471 J7 flayed United States Patent 3 244 199 uocxar NozzLE wrrrrADJUSTABLE THROAT Edward James Hayes, Livonia, Mich., assignor toKelsey- Hayes Company, Romulus, MiclL, a corporation of Delaware FiledJune 25, 1962, Ser. No. 204,757 13 Claims. (Cl. 138-45) This inventionrelates to nozzles for directing fluid fiow and more particularly toexhaust nozzles for use on propulsively driven rockets, missiles, or thelike.

In the propulsion of jet aircraft, rockets or missiles an exhaust nozzleassembly is utilized through which hot burning gases are passed tothereby propel the vehicle. It is a primary object of this invention toprovide a novel exhaust nozzle assembly having means for selectivelyvarying the thrust of the hot gases from the nozzle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a ,novel exhaustnozzle assembly having a nozzle with a throat portion the area of whichis selectively variable to thereby vary the magnitude of the thrust ofthe hot gases discharged through the nozzle.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the novel exhaust nozzle assemblyembodying the features of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the nozzle assembly of FIGURE 1 takensubstantially along the line 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of the nozzle assembly of FIGURE 1 asviewed in the direction of the arrow indicated by the numeral 3 inFIGURE 1 and depicting the throat area with the nozzle in one condition;and V FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary .view of the nozzle assembly o-f FIGURE1 as viewed in the direction of the arrow indicated by the numeral 3 inFIGURE land depicting the throat area with the nozzle in a differentcondition.

Looking now to the drawing, a nozzle assembly is generally indicated bythe numeral and has a nozzle member 11, which, if for the purpose ofexplanation is initially considered to be of one piece, is provided witha rearwardly disposed conically shaped inlet portion 12 which extendsaxially outwardly and tapers radially in wardly and blends into areduced area throat portion 14 which is turn blends into a generallyconically shaped axially outwardly extending and radially outwardlyflaring outlet portion 16. The internal and external surfaces of thenozzle 11 are similar in general contour. The nozzle 11 has a centralaxis and is actually made of three parts with a truncating segment 18extending at an acute angle relative to the central axis 20 of thenozzle member 11 and traversing the throat portion 14 truncating inpart, at least, the outlet cone portion 16 and the inlet cone portion 12(FIGURE 2) to form thereby separate inner and outer sections 22 and 24,respectively. The sections 22 and 24 are secured together by a pair ofU-shaped arms 26 and 28. The truncating segment 18 has inner and outerfaces 30 and 32, respectively, which lie in a pair of diagonallyextending, parallelly disposed planes. These planes also contain theinclinde surfaces 40, 41 on the inner and outer sections 22 and 24,respectively, which matably confront the inner and outer faces 30, 32,respectively, on the truncating segment 18.

A guide ring 34, which is circular with respect to an axis 36perpendicular to the inner face 30, is disposed partially in the innerface 30. The ring 34 fits matably within a circularly shaped grove 38disposed in the surice face 40 of the inner section 22, The groove 38defines portions of a circle having its center on the axis 36. Portionsof the ring 34 extend radially outwardly on opposite sides of thetruncating segment 18 and gear teeth are formed in the outer peripheryof one of the portions 42.

Since the inlet cone portion 12 and outlet cone portion 16 are bothright circular cones, a plane extending perpendicularly with respect tothe axis 20 anywhere along the nozzle 1'1 would cut a circular sectionthrough both the inner and outer surfaces thereof. However, with thefaces 30 and 32 of the truncating section 18 inclined diagonally or atan acute angle with respect to the axis 20, a circularly prolate orsomewhat elliptically shaped section is defined. Since the internal andexternal surfaces of the truncating section 18 and of the inner andouter sections 22 and 24 are similar, a somewhat elliptically shapedaperture is defined in the inner and outer faces 30, 32 and in theinclined surfaces 40, 41.

Since the exhaust gases pass through the nozzle 11 in a directionparallel to the axis 20, the area of the aperture through the nozzle forflow purposes is that area projected in a plane perpendicular to thedirection of flow of the gases and hence perpendicular to the axis 20.With the assembly 10 in the condition as shown in FIGURE 2, the exhaustgases are passed through circular sections which continuously change inarea. By rotating the truncating segment 18 about the axis 36, thesomewhat elliptically shaped aperture through the faces 30 and 32 ismoved out of alignment with the corresponding somewhat ellipticallyshaped apertures in the surfaces 40, 41 of the inner and outer sections22 and 24, respectively. Since rotation of the truncating segment 18from the aligned position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 moves what could beconsidered as the minor axis of its aperture toward the major axes ofthe apertures in surfaces 40 and 42, an intenference in the throatportion 14 results whereby the projected area therethrough is reduced(see FIGURE 4). Maximum interference, and minimum projected area areobtained whenthe minor axis of the somewhat elliptical aperture of thetruncating section 18 is brought in alignment with the major axes of theelliptical apertures in the surfaces 40, 41 in the inner and outersections 22, 24.: Thus, the projected area of the throat portion 14 canbe varied by varying the relative position of the aperture in the'truncating section 18 relative to the apertures in the surfaces 40, 41in the inner and outer segments 22 and 24.

To provide rotation of the segment 18 a drive gear and motor assembly 44is secured to the U-shaped arm 26 and has a drive gear 46 in engagementwith the gear teeth on the portion 42. The motor for the gear 46 can beeither electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically powered andcontrolled either by automatic or manual means (not shown). While thetruncating section 18 is rotated about the axis 36, the arms 26 and 28maintain the inner and outer segments 22 and 24, respectively, in oneposition.

The inlet portion 12 terminates at its axially innermost portion in agenerally annular flange 48 whereby the nozzle assembly 10 can besecured to a missile, rocket, or other similar type aircraft.

Thus it can be seen that by rotating the truncating section 18, the areaof the throat portion 14 through which the exhaust gases are passed canbe varied, hence providing means for varying the thrust of the exhaustgases out of the nozzle 11. The change in area or thrust can beselectively elfectuated by means of the gear and motor assembly 44 andby control means well known in the art.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of theinvention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects abovestated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change Without departing from the properscope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A discharge nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle member having aninlet portion and an outlet portion, a reduced section throat portiondisposed between said inlet and said outlet portions, rotatable means orselectively varying the projected area through said throat portion, saidmeans including a rotatable truncating segment having inner and outerfaces defined by a pair of parallel planes extending diagonally at anacute angle through said throat portion for varying the projected areathrough said throat portion in accordance with the magnitude of rotationof said truncating segment.

2. A discharge nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle member having anannularly shaped inlet portion and an iannularly shaped outlet portion,a reduced section annular throat portion disposed between said inlet andsaid outlet portions, means for selectively varying the projected areaof said throat portion, said means including a rotatable truncatingsegment having inner and outer faces defined by a pair of parallelplanes extending diagonally at an acute angle relative to the axis ofsaid nozzle member through said inlet portion, said throat portion andsaid outlet portion.

3. A discharge nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle member having aninlet portion, an outlet portion and a reduced section throat portiondisposed between said inlet and said outlet portions, means forselectively varying the projected area of said throat portion, saidmeans including a truncating segment having inner and outer facesdefined by a pair of parallel planes extending diagonally relative tothe axis of said nozzle member through said throat portion and dividingsaid nozzle member into separate inner and outer sections for varyingthe area of said throat portion in accordance with the magnitude ofrotation of said truncating segment about an axis perpendicular'to saidparallel planes, said planes defining a pair of inclined surfaces onsaid inner and outer sections matably confronting said faces on saidtruncating segment.

4. A discharge nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle member having anlannularly shaped inlet portion and an annularly shaped outlet portion;a reduced section annular throat portion on said nozzle member disposedbetween said inlet and said outlet portions; rotatable truncatingsegment means having inner and outer faces defined by a pair of parallelplanes extending diagonally through said inlet portion, said throatportion, and said outlet portion and being rotatable for selectivelyvarying the projected area through said throat portion in accordancewith the magnitude of rotation; said truncating segment means dividingsaid nozzle member into an inner and an outer section with said innerand outer sections each having an inclined surface matably confrontingone of said faces of said truncating segment.

5. A discharge nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle member having anannularly shaped inlet portion, an annularly shaped outlet portion, anda reduced section annular throat portion disposed between said inlet andsaid outlet portions; a truncating segment having inner and outer facesdefined by a pair of parallel planes extending diagonally through saidinlet portion, said throat portion and said outlet portion with saidplanes defining a circularly prolate aperture in said inner and outerfaces; said truncating segment dividing said nozzle member into an innerand an outer section with said inner and said outer section each havingan inclined surface matably confronting one of said faces of saidtruncating segment and with each of said inclined surf-aces having anaperture similar in shape to that aperture in said inner and outer faceswith which said each of said surfaces is individual,

d and means rotatably supporting one of said truncating seg ment, saidinner section and said outer section for rotation relative to another ofsaid truncating segment, said inner section and said outer section.

6. A discharge nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle member having anannularly shaped inlet portion, an annularly shaped outlet portion, anda reduced section annular throat portion disposed between said inlet andsaid outlet portions, a truncating segment having inner and outer facesdefined by a pair of parallel planes extending diagonally through saidinlet portion, said throat portion and said outlet portion with saidplanes defining a circularly prolate aperture in said inner and outerfaces, said truncating segment dividing said nozzle member into an innerand an outer section with said inner and said outer section each havingan inclined surface matably confronting one of said faces of saidtruncating segment and with each of said inclined surfaces having anaperture similar in shape to that aperture in said inner and outer faceswith which said each of said surfaces is individual, and means rotatablysecuring said truncating segment between said inner and said outersections.

7. A discharge nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle member having anannularly shaped inlet portion, an ann-ularly shaped outlet portion, anda reduced section annular throat portion disposed between said inlet andsaid outlet portions, a truncating segment having inner and outer facesdefined by a pair of parallel planes extending diagonally through saidinlet portion, said throat portion and said outlet portion with saidplanes defining 1a circularly prolate aperture in said inner and outerfaces, said truncating segment dividing said nozzle member into an innerand an outer section with said inner and said outer section each havingan inclined surface matably confronting one of said faces of saidtruncating segment and with each of said inclined surfaces having anaperture similar in shape to that aperture in said inner and outer faceswith which said each of said surfaces is individual, means rotatablysecuring said truncating segment between said inner and said outersections, and means for selectively rotating said truncating segmentrelative to said inner and outer sections.

8. A discharge nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle member having an'annularly shaped inlet portion, an annularly shaped outlet portion, anda reduced section annular throat portion disposed between said inlet andsaid outlet portions, a truncating segment having inner and outer facesdefined by a pair of parallel planes extending diagonally through saidinlet portion, said throat portion and said outlet portion with saidplanes defining a circularly prola-te aperture in said inner and outerfaces, said truncating segment dividing said nozzle member into an innerand an outer section with said inner and said outer section each havingan inclined surface matably confronting one of said faces of saidtruncating segment and with each of said inclined surfaces having anaperture similar in shape to that aperture in said inner and outer faceswith which said each of said surfaces is individual, a groove definingportions of a circle disposed in one of said surfaces on said inner andouter sections, a circular ring disposed in one of said faces of saidtruncating segment and matably located Within said groove, and meansrotatably supporting one of said truncating segment, said inner sectionand said outer section for rotation relative to another of saidtruncating segment, said inner section and said outer section.

9. A discharge nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle member having anannularly shaped inlet portion, an annularly shaped outlet portion, anda reduced section annular throat portion disposed between said inlet andsaid outlet portions, a truncating segment having inner and outer facesdefined by a pair of parallel planes extending diagonally through saidinlet portion, said throat portion and said outlet portion with saidplanes defining a circularly prolate aperture in said inner and outerfaces,

said truncating segment dividing said nozzle member into inner and anouter section with said inner and said outer section each having aninclined surface matably confronting one of said faces of saidtruncating segment and with each of said inclined surfaces having anaperture similar in shape to that aperture in said inner and outer faceswith which said each of said surfaces is individual, a groove definingportions of a circle disposed in one of said surfaces of said inner andouter sections, and a circular ring partially disposed in one of saidfaces of said truncating segment and being partially disposed in saidgroove and having a portion extending outwardly beyond said one of saidfaces, gear teeth means disposed on said portion of said ring, and drivemeans engageable with said gear teeth means for selectively rotatingsaid truncating segment relative to said inner and outer sections.

10. A discharge nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle member having anannularly shaped inlet portion, an annularly shaped outlet portion, anda reduced section annular throat portion disposed between said inlet andsaid outlet portions, a truncating segment having inner and outer facesdefined by a pair of parallel planes extending diagonally through saidinlet portion, said throat portion and said outlet portion with saidplanes defining a circularly prolate aperture in said inner and outerfaces, said truncating segment dividing said nozzle member into an innerand an outer section with said inner and said outer section each havingan inclined surface matably confronting one of said faces of saidtruncating segment and with each of said inclined surfaces having anaperture similar in shape to that aperture in said inner and outer facesWith which said each of said surfaces is individual, a groove definingportions of a circle disposed in one of said surfaces in said inner andouter sections, and a circular ring partially disposed in one of saidfaces of said truncating segment and being partially disposed in saidgroove and having a portion extending outwardly beyond said one of saidfaces, gear teeth means disposed on said portion of said ring, and drivemeans engageable with said gear teeth means for selectively rotatingsaid truncating segment relative to said inner and outer sections andmeans for holding said inner and said outer sections together.

11. A discharge nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle member having anannularly shaped inlet portion, an axially outwardly extending, radiallyoutwardly flaring conical outlet portion, and a reduced section annularthroat portion disposed between said inlet and said outlet portions, atruncating segment having inner and outer faces defined by a pair ofparallel planes extending diagonally through said inlet portion, saidthroat portion and said outlet portion with said planes defining acircularly prolate aperture in said inner and outer faces, saidtruncating segment dividing said nozzle member into an inner and anouter section with said inner and said outer section each having aninclined surface matably confronting one of said faces of saidtruncating segment and with each of said inclined surfaces having anaperture similar in shape to that aperture in said inner and outer faceswith which said each of said surfaces is individual, a groove definingportions of a circle disposed in one of said surfaces in said inner andouter sections, and a circular ring partially disposed in one of saidfaces of said truncating segment and being partially disposed in saidgroove and having a portion extending outwardly beyond said one of saidfaces, gear teeth means disposed on said portion of said ring, and drivemeans engageable with said gear teeth means for selectively rotatingsaid truncating segment relative to said inner and outer sections.

12. A discharge nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle member having anaxially outwardly extending, radially inwardly tapering conical inletportion, an axially outwardly extending, radially outwardly flaringconical outlet portion, and a reduced section annular throat portiondisposed between said inlet and said outlet portions, a

truncating segment having inner and outer faces defined by a pair ofparallel planes extending diagonally through said inlet portion, saidthroat portion and said outlet portion with said planes defining acircularly prolate aperture in said inner and outer faces, saidtruncating segment dividing said nozzle member into an inner and anouter section with said inner and said outer section each having aninclined surface matably confronting one of said faces of saidtruncating segment and with each of said inclined surfaces having anaperture similar in shape to that aperture in said inner and outer faceswith which said each of said surfaces is individual, a groove definingportions of a circle disposed in one of said surfaces in said inner andouter sections, and a circularly ring partially disposed in one of saidfaces of said truncating segment and being partially disposed in saidgroove and having a portion extending outwardly beyond said one of saidfaces, gear teeth means disposed on said portion of said ring, and drivemeans engageable with said gear teeth means for selectively rotatingsaid truncating segment relative to said inner and outer sections.

13. A discharge nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle member having aninlet portion, an outlet portion, and a reduced section throat portiondisposed between said inlet and said outlet portions, said inletportion, outlet portion and throat portion having a generally commonaxis and with said inlet portion, outlet portion and throat portionhaving an aperture normally of circular cross-section in a planeperpendicular to said axis said.

nozzle member being divided by a separating plane extending through saidthroat portion at an acute angle relative to said axis with saidseparating plane defining a circularly prolate aperture in the matingsurfaces of the sections of said nozzle member on opposite sides of saidseparating plane, and means for selectively rotating said sections onopposite sides of said separating plane relative to each other wherebythe projected area through said throat portion can be varied.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 917,970 4/1909Smith et al 13845 2,590,272 3/ 1952 Robertson et a1. 2,612,747 10/1952Skinner. 2,933,889 4/ 1960 Tockmitt 6035.54 X 2,987,874 6/1961 Nicholson6035.6

MARK NEWMAN, Primary Examiner.

A RAM BLUM, SAMUEL LEVINE, Exa iners.

13. A DISCHARGE NOZZLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A NOZZLE MEMBER HAVING ANINLET PORTION, AN OUTLET PORTION AND A REDUCED SECTION THROAT PORTIONDISPOSED BETWEEN SAID INLET AND SAID OUTLET PORTIONS, SAID INLETPORTION, OUTLET PORTION AND THROAT PORTION HAVING A GENERALLY COMMONAXIS AND WITH SAID INLET PORTION, OUTLET PORTION AND THROAT PORTIONHAVING AN APERTURE NORMALLY OF CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTION IN A PLANEPERPENDICULAR TO SAID AXIS SAID NOZZLE MEMBER BEING DIVIDED BY ASEPARATING PLANE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID THROAT PORTION AT AN ACUTE ANGLE